Dandelion

Taraxacum officinale G.H. Weber ex Wiggers

Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)

▲ seedling

▲▼ mature, flowering plants

▲▼ very large dandelions in Hoonah, Alaska

▲ fruit with long pappus (hairs) that allow wind dispersal when mature

Dandelion: 

·         rosette forming, simple perennial with deep tap root in the Asteraceae family

·         leaf edges deeply toothed (dandelion derived from term meaning "teeth of lion"

·         bright yellow flowers (Aster Family)

·         native to Europe; brought to U.S. for food and medicinal use

·         reproduces readily by seed